By By Daily Press Staff
Crime Watch is a weekly snapshot of the Santa Monica Police Department, culled from their own reports. The following are arrests only. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
TUESDAY, JAN. 22, AT 5:45 P.M., Santa Monica police officers responded to the 2400 block of Pico Boulevard — Rite Aid — regarding an armed robbery that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they spoke with store employees who said three males — one adult and two juveniles — walked into the store and headed straight for the liquor section. A few moments later one of the suspects started walking toward the front door with a knife in his hand, the employees said. He was allegedly yelling and cursing at employees and customers. Walking right behind him was a second suspect who was holding in his hands a bottle of vodka and a bottle of gin, both valued at $67. The third suspect followed closely behind and had in his possession some potato chips and other snacks. The third suspect dropped the items before exiting the store. An employee tried to stop the second suspect with the liquor but he was able to dodge the female employee and walk out. Officers from the Pico Neighborhood watched surveillance video and easily identified the suspects, who were arrested for armed robbery and conspiracy later on that day, police said. The two juveniles were 16 and 17 years old. The adult was identified as Javier Martinez, 19, of Santa Monica. No bail information was available.
FRIDAY, JAN. 25, AT 11:10 P.M., Officers responded to the 1000 block of Second Street after receiving a call about a theft in progress. When officers arrived, they spoke with residents of an apartment complex who said they saw two men walk into the courtyard and grab a bicycle. Witnesses said the suspects noticed they were being watched and tried to jump on the bike and ride off, but the chain became stuck so they had to push it to a truck parked nearby. The suspects drove off, but not before witnesses caught a glimpse of the get-away-vehicle. Armed with that description, officers located the suspects at Second Street and Wilshire Boulevard. Witnesses were then taken to the location and positively identified the suspects. They were arrested for petty theft. One suspect was a 14-year-old juvenile. The other suspect was identified as Maxwell Christopher Storm, 18, from Venice. His bail was set at $20,000.
SUNDAY, JAN. 20, AT 1 P.M., Officers responded to a computer store located in the 2800 block of Wilshire Boulevard regarding a possible suspect in possession of a stolen computer. When officers arrived, they apprehended the suspect in question and made contact with store employees, who said the suspect walked into the store and asked for a computer technician to remove passwords on the computer. Suspicious, the technician unlocked personal information on the computer and called the owner, a doctor, who said his computer was stolen. The technician then called police. The suspect was booked for possession of stolen property and for violating the terms of his probation, police said. The suspect was identified as Leon Holin Harris, 29, from Santa Monica. His bail was set at $10,419.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23, AT 12:30 A.M., Police on routine patrol in the 2000 block of Ocean Avenue were cruising next to a parked car when they smelled the strong stench of marijuana. Officers circled back around and approached the parked car and the three suspects inside, one of whom was asleep in the back seat. Officers questioned the two who were smoking and asked them what they were doing. One of the suspects allegedly told the officers that he was “just smoking a little blunt.” Officers searched the car and found over 6 ounces of marijuana, some of it packaged in small baggies as if ready for sale. Officers also found over $540 in cash. The officers placed the two suspects who were smoking under arrest for possession with the intent to distribute. The third suspect was not arrested. The first suspect was identified as Jeffrey Thomas Sackman, 40, of Cathedral City. The other was identified as Kenneth Michael Hockenberry, 54. Bail was set at $20,000 for reach suspect.
SUNDAY, JAN. 20, AT 6:30 P.M., Officers responded to the 3100 block of Pico Boulevard — Santa Monica Bar and Grille Restaurant — regarding a sexual assault that just occurred. Officers said that a former employee went to the bar to pick up her last paycheck when the manger called her back to his office and then grabbed her breasts several times. Officers said the manager held out the paycheck and asked the employee, “What do I get for this?” before committing the assault. The employee managed to grab her check and break free. She then called police, who arrested the manager. He was identified as Sean Emerson Conrad. No other booking information was available.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 1, 2008. Read the original PDF.